There was little walking room at the Botanical Gardens yesterday as the second day of the Annual Exhibition drew out a considerably larger crowd than the first, despite intermittent light showers.

The success of the 69th event has organisers bracing for a surge in those turning out for today’s finale — as families freed of work commitments flock to the grounds for exhibits, entertainment and munchies.

“I’m here with my family, having a good time and I’m re-living some of my own childhood when I would come to the Exhibition,” said Tesfa Maryam, 25, on his day off from work yesterday.

When asked if he noticed a difference in this year’s show compared with previous ones, he added: “There are more vendors than there used to be, I don’t know if that’s good or bad.

“It does provide a bit more variety, but it also gives a very closed-in feeling in some of the places that were nice and open.

“There are lots more cars here than before and the parking is crazy — someone needs to do something about that.

“Otherwise, they did a really good job. After walking around for an hour, everything that I’ve seen has been well put together by really dedicated people.”

Brennon Lloyd, 19, from Chicago, a member of the visiting Jessie White Tumbling Acrobatic Team, was enjoying his first time on the Island and planned to see Bermuda’s “pink sand”.

The world-renowned act has performed across the United States as well as China and the Bahamas. They will head home on Sunday after thrilling exhibition crowds with their high-flying stunts.

“You must go through a training process for nine months in order to make the team,” Mr. Lloyd said. “We are taught a variety of tumbling skills by experienced coaches.”

Many of the Exhibition participants were proudly sporting ribbons in recognition of category wins yesterday.

John Russell, 11, of Somersfield Academy, received a “highly commended” award for the four Coturnix brown quails he entered along with buddy Jonathan Cox of Saltus Grammar School.

“My friend Jonathan Cox’s father brought in some quails from America and after taking care of some of them, we developed a liking for the birds and decided to enter them,” he explained.

“I currently have 32 of them at home and feed them organic poultry feed so their eggs are organic, which we then sell.

“These quails are quite rare in Bermuda at the moment but you can find them wild in places like the southern United States and most people keep them to sell their eggs or meat.”

Some of the highlights of today’s finale at the Botanical Gardens are expected to be a gospel concert by Kelly Zuill, the Jessie White Tumbling Acrobatic Team and a performance by the Port Royal Primary School dancers.

The exhibition will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.